IT is a long from the UK but Bendigo is set to become the first city in Australia to have its own officially recognised tartan.
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The City of Greater Bendigo voted unanimously last night to endorse Chris Earl’s bid to register an official Bendigo Tartan design with the Scottish Tartan Authority in the United Kingdom.
The event director at Bendigo's Scots Day Out, Mr Earl said there were thousands of registered tartans in world.
“Ad there have been some instances of states or particular events adopting an official tartan but, to the best of our knowledge, no other Australian council has officially adopted its own tartan,” he said.
Mr Earl said Bendigo had a long-standing connection with Scotland, from gold rush-era pioneers to the present day.
He said registered and sample products bearing the tartan design could be produced within three months.
In historical times a tartan signified a family or a clan… back four or five centuries the tartan was worn into battle so warriors knew who was on their side, today it is a symbol of a bond of friendship.
- Chris Earl
“If people want to have kilts made, they can… and we’ve got quite a few little plans to have special mementos of Bendigo,” he said, adding they would be ready in time for next year’s Scots Day Out.
But for those who can’t wait until February to get their kilt on, Mr Earl said they had the perfect excuse this weekend.
“This Saturday night is the Scots Night Out,” he said.
“It’s a traditional Scottish dinner… there will be haggis of course, lamb and a beautiful dish of clootie dumpling for desert.”
